Does anyone have any opinions about the old Alamo amps? To narrow it slightly, the hybrid tube/ss and the tube models before them.
—Maybe a Univox does surf...
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
Alamo Amps
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Joined: Sep 06, 2011 Posts: 132 So Cal 
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Posted on Aug 09 2012 09:04 PM
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Joined: Dec 08, 2007 Posts: 1304 
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Posted on Aug 09 2012 09:55 PM
oops! nevermind —https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger Last edited: Aug 09, 2012 22:11:58 |
Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1278 San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Aug 09 2012 10:02 PM
Actually Alamo amps and guitars were made in San Antonio, Texas. When Valco shut down Alamo bought a lot of surplus parts from them, that's probably where the confusion lies. Here's a really great article about them - http://www.vintageguitar.com/1816/alamo-guitars-and-amps-remember-the-alamo/ My main amp is an Alamo Futura Reverb, which is a twin twelve w/ about 35 watts and I totally dig it. —Bill S._______ Last edited: Aug 10, 2012 15:03:33 |
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Joined: Dec 08, 2007 Posts: 1304
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Posted on Aug 09 2012 10:05 PM
remora1 wrote:
Wow, I didn't know that! They're really similar to a lot of Valco stuf, so I always just assumed... Thanks for the correction. —https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger |
Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507 |
Posted on Aug 09 2012 10:28 PM
I've played an Alamo Fury amp once, all tube early 60s chrome-face one, vol bass and treble controls, 3 inputs, either 12" or 15" speaker, probably 20 watts. Sounded great, had a sweet overdrive at higher volumes and nice cleans but not as bright as a Fender amp. Would've bought it but there was some weird mod with the tubes and the wiring looked sketchy. Great amps though. |
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Joined: Sep 06, 2011 Posts: 132 So Cal
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Posted on Aug 10 2012 09:23 AM
I forgot about that article. I'll need to re-read that when I get a chance. Any opinions on the hybrid circuits? I was considering grabbing a Montclair reverb chassis, since I have a cab to throw it in, a speaker and tubes. I would need the proper reverb tank though. —Maybe a Univox does surf... |
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Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1278 San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Aug 10 2012 05:50 PM
Here's another article about my amp that does a good job of describing the way these hybrids sound - 1970′s Alamo Futura Reverb Guitar Amplifier I've also got an Alamo Electra 2570 which is a twin 10" that sounds pretty sweet too. —Bill S._______ |
Joined: Jun 14, 2012 Posts: 462 Ohio! 
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Posted on Aug 10 2012 06:27 PM
I have an Alamo Dart that sounds real cool, a tube model. It's only 12 watts though, wish it was louder! |
Joined: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 2858 Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Aug 10 2012 09:46 PM
I was told a long time ago by an amazing guitarist that if I ever came across an old Alamo Jet to buy it as quickly as possible. Matt "tha Kat" Lentz |
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Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507 |
Posted on Aug 10 2012 10:37 PM
Just bought an Alamo Embassy blackface tube amp, sounds really cool. Looks exactly like the Alamo Jet (EXACTLY!) so I don't know what's the story there. Tremolo, 2 knobs, 3 inputs, 10" speaker, low volume, and perfect for old school music. Falls into the 60s budget amp/Silvertone/Harmony/etc category. Now I need an Alamo guitar to pair with it! |
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Joined: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 2858 Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Aug 10 2012 10:48 PM
Awesome! Can't wait to see it! I've never been able to find one. Matt "tha Kat" Lentz |
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Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507 |
Posted on Aug 10 2012 11:25 PM
Matt22 wrote:
Traded that Kay guitar for it. Got it @ Precision Guitars. I'm always on the lookout for old "crappy |
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Joined: Sep 06, 2011 Posts: 132 So Cal
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Posted on Aug 11 2012 10:37 AM
I think you should put a picture of it up here. For educational purposes of course Maybe a Univox does surf... |
Joined: Apr 06, 2009 Posts: 565 North Cackalacky
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Posted on Aug 11 2012 03:41 PM
Alamos aren't bad amps; their one handicap is that most of them don't get very loud. Some are annoyingly soft, if you know what I mean. There are supposed mods to fix stuff like this, but they may also lessen the reliability of the old boogers. The Solid State/Tube hybrid stuff is okay; of a couple I've played, they're sort of like cheapo variants of Music Man amps, but they grunge up a little better at higher volumes. They also can suffer the same issues MM amps get when you push the preamps too hard (like with Overdrives, Volume boosters, etc), in that they'll start to sputter and motorboat from the abuse. When I was younger, and there seemed to be an Alamo Fury amp in every pawn shop in the country, I viewed these amps with a leery eye; every time you turned them up and the tubes got hot, they emitted a certain smell that made you think something was burning! But an old amp guru friend told me to I was being misled--ALL Alamo amps smell like they're about to catch fire! I don't know if that's true, but it's a good lie if it ain't. --Crispy |
Joined: Sep 23, 2008 Posts: 349 Montclair, NJ |
Posted on Aug 11 2012 05:31 PM
I would really like to try the Alamo Paragon, or 2725, not sure if it's the same amp. Supposedly for bass, a 1x15. |
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Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507 |
Posted on Aug 11 2012 07:26 PM
CrispyGoodness wrote:
I know what you mean about the "softness" and "motorboating |
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Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507 |
Posted on Aug 11 2012 07:45 PM
Last edited: Aug 11, 2012 19:47:43 |
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Joined: Sep 06, 2011 Posts: 132 So Cal
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Posted on Aug 11 2012 08:21 PM
That's mighty purty right there. I saw a Paragon Bass amp head with similar cosmetics to the one above, as a matter of fact, it sort of looked like this one: http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/smrz/DSCF1263.jpg Maybe a Univox does surf... |
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Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507 |
Posted on Aug 11 2012 10:48 PM
There's a Paragon bass amp on eBay right now for $550, looks nice. |
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Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507 |
Posted on Aug 11 2012 10:50 PM
Funny thing is, I bought a Kay guitar project for $40, restored it, then traded it for the amp. So, with materials added in for the restoration, the Alamo amp basically cost me like $55 bucks! lol |
" tube amps. A cheap way to calm the G.A.S. until next purchase..lol
" sounds. When the volume is maxed, after a few minutes it starts to get mushy and weird, I thought I bought a piece of sh*t, but now after hearing about others with this issue, I guess it's part of the Alamo charm! Otherwise it sounds fine, not that loud, but great for jamming and practicing. Pics to followPlease visit our friends in the surf music community:
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